| Hand Arm
Vibration Introduction: |
Many
Workers who are regularly exposed to high
vibration magnitudes may suffer from several
kinds of injury to the hands and arms, including
impaired blood circulation and damage of
the nerves and muscles. This is most likely
when contact with a vibrating tool or work
process is a regular part of an employees’ job.
It is recognized that vibration with a frequency
ranging from 2 to 1500 cycles per second
(120 to 90000 rpm) is potentially damaging
and is most hazardous between 5 to 20 cycles
per second (300 to 1200 rpm). The risk to
health depends on both the vibration magnitude
and the duration of exposure.
Several other factors may also affect the
level of risk, including;
- The grip, push and other forces
- How much of the hand is exposed
- Factors effecting the blood circulation e.g.
temperature levels
- Individual susceptibility, whether the individual
is a smoker, has a history of poor circulation.
Which jobs and industries are most likely
to involve hand-arm vibration?
Jobs requiring regular and frequent use of
vibrating tools and equipment and handling
of vibrating materials are found in a wide
range of industries for example:
- Building and maintenance of roads and railways
- Construction
- Estate management( e.g. maintenance of grounds,
parks, water courses, road and rail side
verges)
- Forestry
- Foundries
- Heavy engineering
- Aerospace industry
- Concrete manufacture
- Mines and quarries
- Motor vehicle manufacture and repair
- Public utilities
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The Control of Vibration
at Work Regulations 2005 These require
the employer to prevent or adequately control
employees’ exposure to vibration
and gives two action levels. The Exposure
Action Value, is a daily amount of vibration
exposure, above which the employer is required
to take action to control exposure. The
EAV for hand-arm vibration is set at 2.5
m/s2 A(8) The Exposure Limit Value, is
the maximum amount of vibration an employee
may be exposed to on any single day. The
ELV for hand-arm vibration is set at 5.0
m/s2 A(8) it represents a high risk above
which employees should not be exposed.
How can REC help you?
REC experts can undertake the assessment
and management of hand-arm vibration that
will incorporate task analysis monitoring
in order to evaluate personnel exposure
and provide comprehensive test reports
detailing:
-
Measurement of transmitted vibration and
evaluation of selected hand held and hand
guided power tools
-
Site observations and advice on improvement
in working practices.
-
Advice on health surveillance
-
Advice on sufficient information, instruction
and training
-
Guidance on positive purchasing policies.
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